A Large Black Assassin Bug (Sycanus collaris)

Towards the end of October, 2014, I was out searching for dragonflies on the outskirts of Khon Kaen when I noticed an enormous Assassin Bug, Sycanus collaris, resting in the shade from the hot sun. It is the biggest I have seen and has seriously gruesome spines.

Giant Asian Mantis (Hierodula grandis)

At the lower reaches of Nam Nao NP, Petchabun, I was searching for dragonflies along a very quiet stream when I saw a very large praying mantis floating in the stream. I thought it was dead. I picked it out and it was very much alive. I placed it back in the tree and went to take some photos, when it jumped in again. It did this 3-4 times until eventually it seemed to settle. No idea why. Anyway, I sent photos to Pisuth Ek-Amnuay and he IDd it as the Giant Asian Mantis or Hierodula grandis. I hope to see this species again, though not one that likes swimming! Many thanks to Pisuth for the ID.

 

Constantly cleaning after swimming!

 

 

It happily sat on my hand for long periods.

Here it was going for a mid-afternoon dip in the stream (again and again).

 

Mining Bee

Out and about in Khon Kaen back in December 2014, I came across a nicely coloured bee. It could be a Mining Bee, but I am not entirely sure. Any ideas?

 

 

Indian Flower Mantis (Creobroter gemmatus)

Whilst waist-deep in a small farmer's pond in Khon Kaen, I noticed a very different-looking mantis. I managed to get a few shots, though it was tiny, deep in the reeds and was fairly fast-moving. It turns out to be a nymph of the Indian Flower Mantis or Creobroter gemmatus. Strange, as I have never seen a mature one ... I will find one, one day.

 

Many thanks to Pisuth Ek-Amnuay for the ID.

 

 

Hong Kong Lantern Bug (Zanna chinensis)

Back in 2012, I was working my way around the Helicopter Pad Lake at Nam Nao NP, Petchabun and I noticed a large Lantern Bug resting amongst the grasses. It was later IDd by Noppadon Makbun as probably the Hong Kong Lantern Bug (or fly) Zanna chinensis. Not sure how common this species is (seems known from China), but it is the only one I have spotted. A beautiful species and well worth time out from dragonfly hunting.

 

Note: reading up on the species, what little information there is, records the fact that this species was spotted amongst the grasses, as this was. Possibly a preferred habitat over the usual tree stumps.

 

Malayan Snail-Eating Turtle (Malayemys macrocephala) ???

This turtle I saw back in 2011 at Khao Yai (Nakhorn Ratchasima), was much bigger than the other specimen I saw See Here. It is possible that it is not the sub-species Malayemys macrocephala and is in fact, the nominate sub-species Malayemys subtrijuda as it distinctly has an additional stripe on the eye. I need an expert to know for sure.  For now, I will keep it as the previous specimen as before, due to the location I saw it. Any advance on species?

 

Here you can see the additional stripe next to the eye.  

 

Now he's retreated back into the depths ...well, not quite yet ...

 

Malayan Box Turtle (Cuora amboinensis)

At the start of January 2015, there was a commotion in the school playground. A terrapin (or turtle) had found its way into the school pond and was now climbing out. I managed to take a few photos with my phone and then posted them on Facebook (Siamensis Group). Marcus Ng rapidly responded with an ID: the Malayan Box Turtle, Cuora amboinensis. (It is also known as the Southeast Asian Box Turtle).

 

It was a fairly big turtle and was identifiable through its domed shell and distinctive stripes on the head. I hope to see another one day and shot it with my proper camera. Many thanks to Marcus for the ID.

 

 

Malayan Snail-eating Turtle (Malayemys macrocephala)

Riding my motorbike along highway 12 towards Chumphae, Khon Kaen, one very early morning nearly ended in disaster. A terrapin ran straight in front of me and I had to do an emergency stop and swerved all over the road. I managed to get a few photos of him before he disappeared into the grass verge. Both unharmed and a new species for me.

 

Its shell was around 25-30 cms. Doing a little research, it looked like the Malayan Snail-Eating Turtle, (also known as the Rice-Field Terrapin), Malayemys subtrijuda. However, the markings on the head were slightly different. Digging a little further, I found out that central and western Thailand has a sub-species, Malayemys macrocephala (differentiated by the number of stripes on the head)*. I think that is the correct ID, though I am certainly no terrapin/turtle expert!

 

The central/western sub-species seems to have two stripes instead of three.

 

 

The species can be identified by three distinct ridges along the top of the shell.*

 

 

* Source: https://bangkokherps.wordpress.com

Yellow-Spotted Keelback (Xenochrophis flavipunctatus)

I was sitting in my garden in Khon Kaen, 2014, when a fairly large brown snake upwards of a metre in length slithered its way across the road. I dashed for my camera and when I returned he had made it into next door's garden. I managed to get this shot only but I think it is a Yellow-Spotted Keelback or Xenochrophis flavipunctatus. Please advise if I am wrong.

 

Juvenile Forest Crested Lizard (Calotes emma)

It was July 2012. I was at the stream that runs through Nam Nao NP HQ, Petchabun. The shallow, clear stream turned chocolate brown in a matter of minutes and was rising rapidly. The rain was intensifying and I was getting seriously wet, as too was my camera gear. I was panicking. Desperately trying to protect my camera gear, I made a for the exit. Then, in the corner of my eye, I noticed a very small lizard in the leaf litter at the side of the path. I had to stop. It was something I clearly hadn't seen before. I managed to get a few shots of this little fellow as even the pathway began to flood. I helped him climb up onto a tree, enabling him to escape the flood onslaught. I, too, just about made it back without destroying  my gear. As for the lizard, I have no idea what it is. Some kind of leaf litter lizard? That's what I have named it since.

Since I posted this, Joe Hartman believes it is probably a juvenile Forest Crested Lizard or Calotes emma again or very similar sub-species. So, great find, but no cigar with another species. Thanks, Joe!

 

 

Lantern Bug (Pyrops ducalis)

Another Lantern Bug I saw, this time at Khao Yai, Nakhorn Ratchasima, in 2011, is Pyrops ducalis. Similar to the other species I found, but has a distinctly red snout. This species was also difficult to approach and moved around its tree.

 

 

Green Cicada

Back in 2010 I saw a Green Cicada bashing itself against a light at the HQ of Nam Nao NP. Eventually it settled down and I managed to get a decent photo. Any ideas on species?

 

 

King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)

Like the Monocled Cobra, I saw this King Cobra or Ophiophagus hannah at the same snake show in Chiang Mai, back in 2013. I didn't really want to get too close. I have encountered this species in

 Khon Kaen and even had one swim past me during a flood. One day, I will photograph wild specimens, though this will do for now!
 

 

Monocled Cobra (Naja kaouthia)

OK, I am cheating ... this was not in the wild. It is the Monocled Cobra, Naja kaouthia which was at a snake show in Mae Sa, Chiang Mai. I have actually spotted both King and Monocled in the wild, but I haven't had the chance (or the nerve) to get near them. Maybe one day ...

 

 

Golden Tree Snake (Chrysopelea ornata)

A small but beautiful snake I see from time to time, is the Golden Tree Snake or Chrysopelea ornata. It is ultra slim and often quite long. They will sometimes even venture into your home (one stayed in my bathroom for about three days). However, please don't harm them. They are virtually harmless to you and I. Simply shoo them away.

 

This was supposed to be Beau's bird's cage ... not a snake's cage ... he really couldn't fit and I couldn't photograph all of him.

Barred Flying Lizard (Draco taeniopterus)

Whilst out dragonfly hunting deep under heavily tree-lined cover at Kaeng Krachan National Park, something landed right on my head. I thought it was a leaf or a twig ... until I tried to brush it off. Whatever it was leapt from my head and landed on the tree in front of me. Turns out it was a Barred Flying Lizard or Draco taeniopterus.* Its alternative vernacular name is The Thai Flying Lizard. It's the only one I have seen and is uncommon. It quickly folded its small wing flaps away and scurried up the tree to safety. I managed to get a couple of fairly OK shots, but it was seriously quick. Until the next time ...
 

*Once again I have been corrected by Joe Hartman. I thought it was a flying gecko! Many thanks for the ID and additional information.
 

 

Forest Crested Lizard (Calotes emma)

Here is a different variation on the Forest Crested Lizard or Calotes emma. Though the colours are different to those I have seen before, it has the telltale spine protruding just above its eye. I slipped down a rockface and it was right in fron of me. This beautiful specimen was spotted at a stream near Nam Nao town, Petchabun, Jul,y 2013.

 

 

 

Oriental Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor)

Here is a wonderful half-orange, half-brown form of the Oriental Garden Lizard or Calotes versicolor. I think it looks amazing with its seriously long tail ... I had to stand well back to get it all in. I saw this at Nam Pong NP, Khon Kaen back in February 2014.

 

 

Spotted Forest Skink (Sphenomorphus maculatus)

This is a small skink I believe to be a Spotted Forest Skink or Sphenomorphus maculatus. I saw this specimen at Phu Wiang National Park, Khon Kaen province, back in 2011.

 

Oriental Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor)

Walking near the town centre of Kanchanaburi, with my girlfriend, Beau, back in 2011, I saw a rather plain-looking, but chunky lizard claiming the last remaining heat from the embers of the falling sun. I am not entirely sure of the species. It could be a Oriental Garden Lizard or Calotes versicolor. However, I am no expert. I tried to get more photos, but he simply dropped off the tree and ran away ... a super-cool lizard defence.

 

 

The Black and Scarlet Cicada (Huechy sanguinea)

Here's a very interesting snapshot in time, when I visited Nam Nao NP, back in February 2012 at the stream that runs through the headquarters. It's a newly emerged Black and Scarlet Cicada, Huechy sanguinea. One of my favourite captures ... and oddly enough, a year or so later, I saw another one emerging and managed to get a lot more photos of the whole process ... though the photos are somewhere deep in my archives at the moment. Will add them as soon as I find them.

This was kindly IDd by Pisuth Ek-Amnuay, with thanks.

 

Water Monitor Lizards

Now and then, walking along the streams and ponds, you get the feeling that you are not alone. If you are quiet and listen, you may be lucky enought to spot an enormous lizard ... in this case, the Water Monitor. They are massive but won't come anywhere near you so don't worry. They will swim away long before you get too near. Here are a few rather poor shots from Khao Yai National Park back in 2011. I WILL get better photos soon.

 

 

An Amazing Jumping Spider

An amazing jumping spider, which was busily eating another spider, had a wonderful pattern on its abdomen in the shape of a face. Any ideas on species?

Millipede (Asiomorpha coarctata)

One night back in 2012, I was looking for moths outside my door and this little fellow wandered by. Searching the Internet, this could possibly be  the Millipede, Asiomorpha coarctata